Written Answers Thursday 13 March 2008

Scottish Executive

Ambulance Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many ambulances are in use by each NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: The following table gives details of the number of ambulances in use during 2007-08. The information is provided in terms of Scottish Ambulance Service division areas and is not available broken down into NHS board areas.

  

 Division
 Accident and Emergency
 Patient Transport Service


 East Central
 86
 119


 North East
 62
 55


 North West
 70
 31


 South East
 71
 85


 South West
 121
 131


 West Central
 118
 157



  Note: Information provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Ambulance Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many ambulances are to be provided for each NHS board area during the current spending review period.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it will provide during the current spending review period to fund new ambulances and up-to-date mobile equipment to use on them, broken down by NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has provided the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) with a revenue allocation of £183.4 million for 2008-09, an increase of 3.15% over the equivalent 2007-08 allocation. Decisions on funding levels for 2009-10 and 2010-11 have yet to be made.

  The SAS is allocated capital resources based on their approved financial plans. They have been given a capital allocation of £15.180 million for 2008-09 and notified of indicative capital allocations of £13.200 million and £12.350 million for 2009-10 and 2010-11 respectively. Funding for vehicles and equipment programmes over £5 million (such as defibrillators) are allocated in addition to basic allocations following approval of required business cases by the Capital Investment Group.

  It is for the SAS to decide how best this money should be used to obtain the maximum benefits for patients all over Scotland, as well as ensuring value for money.

Ambulance Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many 999 calls were responded to in (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c) 2005, (d) 2006 and (e) 2007, broken down by NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: The following table gives details of the number of 999 calls responded to by the Scottish Ambulance Service for the years 2003-04 to 2007-08, broken down by NHS board area. Category C calls are not included as many do not receive an emergency ambulance response.

  

 NHS Board
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08*


 Argyll and Clyde
 7,842~
 23,469
 25,721#
 31,009#
 30,500#


 Ayrshire and Arran
 597~
 22,516
 23,378
 27,605
 28,125


 Borders
 5,736
 6,439
 7,018
 7,728
 7,556


 Dumfries and Galloway
 228~
 8,174
 8,882
 10,031
 10,007


 Fife
 20,330
 21,242
 23,319
 25,284
 25,479


 Forth Valley
 12,664
 13,247
 15,405
 18,075
 18,104


 Grampian
 24,674
 24,142
 25,530
 29,216
 29,296


 Greater Glasgow
 67,243
 63,931
 67,349
 76,797
 74,047


 Highland
 10,100
 10,260
 11,246
 13,332
 13,459


 Lanarkshire
 33,509
 32,755
 35,774
 42,012
 43,045


 Lothian
 45,469
 48,325
 53,141
 57,936
 58,881


 Tayside
 21,424
 22,517
 23,533
 26,087
 25,140


 Scotland
 249,816
 297,017
 320,296
 365,112
 363,639



  Notes:

  Information provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service

  *To 9 March 2008.

  #For the purposes of comparison, figures are shown reflecting NHS board configurations at the beginning of the time period enquired about.

  ~South West Division was not fully operation under priority based dispatch until 1 April 2004.

Architecture

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any change in the department and minister with responsibility for architecture policy.

Linda Fabiani: Ministerial responsibility for architecture remains with me. In February, a new Directorate for the Built Environment was established, drawing together the Architecture Policy Unit, Building Standards and Planning. This change was one of the proposals contained within the First Minister’s statement on 30 January 2008 on simplifying public services to deliver more effective government, and allows us to develop and strengthen the clear synergies and linkages between various elements of built environment policy work streams within a clear organisational framework. Ministerial responsibility for building standards and the land use planning system remains with Stewart Stevenson.

Bridges

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Forth Estuary Transport Authority on proposals to build temporary ramps on the Forth Road Bridge to ease traffic disruption during repairs to the bridge’s main expansion joints.

Stewart Stevenson: Officials from the Scottish Government and the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) meet regularly to discuss a number of issues. On 15 January FETA hosted a meeting of key stakeholders, including the Scottish Government, to discuss the possible use of temporary ramps to allow limited traffic flow during works on the main expansion joints.

  As the authority with responsibility for maintaining the Forth Road Bridge, FETA is continuing to explore this option, and will keep the Scottish Government and other stakeholders informed of progress.

Bridges

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the new Forth Road Bridge will be paid for if funding is not forthcoming from the Scottish Futures Trust.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is currently reviewing the funding options available for the Forth replacement crossing.

  A decision on this matter will be made later in 2008.

Broadcasting

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it wrote to the Scottish Football Association following the parliamentary debate on Broadcasting (Football) on 9 January 2008 and, if so, what response it has received.

Linda Fabiani: My officials wrote to the Scottish Football Association (SFA) prior to the debate noted in the question. Officials asked the SFA about their views about possible changes to the legislation governing "listed" events and their broadcast on terrestrial television, with particular regard to matches involving the national football team. A response was received from the SFA shortly before the debate, which I have since seen. In their response, the SFA, while welcoming the widespread public interest in the Scotland team, also noted the importance to the SFA of the monies received through the sale of television rights.

  Since the debate on 9 January I have also written to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to highlight the concerns in Scotland around the issues raised in the debate, and to encourage the UK Government to begin a review of the list of events provided for under the Broadcasting Act 1996. I await a reply.

Carers

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many care homes have achieved the target of at least 50% of staff directly caring for residents being trained to SVQ level 2 or equivalent or are working towards achieving the relevant qualification required for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council, as set out in National Care Standards: Care Homes for Older People (Revised November 2007).

Shona Robison: This information is not compiled centrally. As with all other aspects of the national care standards it is the responsibility of the Care Commission to ensure that the requirements of the standards are being met and, where they are not, to take appropriate action.

Children

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to meet the SNP manifesto commitment to ensure that all agencies share information and intervene promptly to identify and support children at risk.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting all children especially those at risk and ensuring that those who need help get a timely and proportionate response. Relevant information-sharing across agencies and prompt intervention are key components in achieving that outcome. Through the implementation of the Getting it right for every child  (GIRFEC) agenda, we are promoting improved culture, systems and practice to facilitate better inter-agency working across all dimensions. The HM Inspectorate of Education-led joint inspection of child protection services in Scotland specifically monitors how well service providers share information and intervene to protect children at risk. We have been reviewing the inspection reports produced thus far; the annual reports from child protection committees in relation to agencies’ sharing of information and prompt intervention, and experience from the GIRFEC pathfinders. There is a need to straddle inter-agency and inter-disciplinary assumptions, principles and practices on risk and what this implies for appropriate levels of information-sharing and intervention. In going forward, we need to engage extensively with stakeholders and professionals and that process will start shortly.

Children

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-505 by Adam Ingram on 18 June 2007, when it will respond to the consultations on Getting it right for every child and whether it intends to introduce legislation to make it a duty for all agencies to co-operate and share information, similar to the situation in England under the Children Act 2004.

Adam Ingram: Implementation of Getting it right for every child is continuing through testing the core components, principles and values in pathfinding activity and in partnership with agencies. The issues raised in the consultation, published in October 2007, are being examined where relevant as part of that process. The Scottish Government is facilitating a learning community network to assist key partners with their understanding and implementation of Getting it right for every child . This will include developing improved culture, systems and practice to facilitate information sharing where this is necessary.

Class Sizes

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its commitment to reduce class sizes to 18 in primaries one to three can be ignored by local authorities where the reduction is not considered to be in the best interests of pupils in particular schools.

Fiona Hyslop: We and local government have signed a concordat that will ensure year on year progress in reducing primary 1 to primary 3 classes to a maximum of 18 precisely because we both believe such a reduction is in the best interest of children.

Class Sizes

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how Highland Council’s plans to reduce teacher numbers fit with the Executive’s commitment to reduce class sizes.

Maureen Watt: We have signed an historic concordat that commits local government to make year on year progress on reducing primary 1 to primary 3 classes to a maximum of 18 as quickly as possible by using the headroom created by broadly maintaining teacher numbers. The number of teachers employed by an authority to meet their statutory and other commitments is a matter for individual authorities.

Creative Scotland Bill

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Creative Scotland Bill will be introduced to the Parliament.

Linda Fabiani: I am pleased to announce that the Creative Scotland Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, 12 March 2008. This is a significant step in establishing the cultural development body, Creative Scotland.

  Scotland is experiencing a cultural renaissance and the establishment of Creative Scotland will cultivate and support the best of Scottish arts and creativity and will build on the successes of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen.

Culture

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the importance of the role of cultural projects, such as the North Edinburgh Arts Centre in Muirhouse, in the regeneration of local communities.

Linda Fabiani: I am very aware of the important role that cultural projects can have in local regeneration activity that boosts confidence, well-being and the life chances of local communities. We currently are supporting a Cultural Pathfinder programme to explore the benefits of community engagement with culture; one of the 13 projects which we are match-funding with local authorities is taking place in Edinburgh, engaging with a wide range of community sectors and equalities groups in particular.

Culture

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the National Galleries of Scotland with a view to some of the £125 million art collection recently donated by Anthony d’Offay to the Tate and the National Galleries of Scotland being permanently located and displayed in some of Scotland’s remoter areas, such as Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross.

Linda Fabiani: It is a key feature of the very generous d’Offay gift that the Artist Rooms  collection should be a national resource. Scottish ministers have awarded an additional £175,000 annually to the National Galleries to tour the collection within Scotland. National Galleries have already announced that the collection will be launched in 2009 with partners in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Orkney and that additional galleries will be sought for collaboration beyond that.

Culture

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the new government priorities are under the Creative Scotland heading in the table on page 49 of Volume 2 of the Finance Committee’s 1st Report, 2008 (Session 3): Stage 2 of the 2008-09 Budget Process.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government will make announcements in due course about the use of funds allocated to new government priorities under the Creative Scotland heading.

Culture

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will cost to hold the signature launch event for the 2009 Year of Homecoming.

Jim Mather: The final budget for the Burns-related launch event for the Homecoming next year is not yet finalised as the arrangements are still in the final stages of development. I have asked the Chief Operating Officer of EventScotland to write to you with this information when it is available.

Culture

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the projected budget for Creative Scotland over the next three years will be for activities that are not currently carried out by the Scottish Arts Council or Scottish Screen.

Linda Fabiani: Creative Scotland, once established, will consider how best to fulfil its functions. Ministers expect that Creative Scotland will evolve the ways in which it stimulates creativity and cultural excellence, which will result in activities, not pursued now by the two existing bodies.

  I look forward with optimism to the impact that Creative Scotland can have. I believe it will be a new, energetic force in our national life that should enable and support others to take risks. I have encouraged the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen, and their transition team, to develop approaches to Creative Scotland with this attitude in mind. I have been encouraged by their response to this challenge. In this connection, it may be useful to consider a statement of intent published recently by the Creative Scotland transition project, which may be viewed at:

  http://transition.creativescotland.org.uk/.

Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether meeting the provisions contained in the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 is likely to be enhanced in the Highlands by Highland Council’s reductions in additional support for learning spending.

Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government will be providing local government in Scotland with record levels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11. We have increased local government’s budget by 5%, 4.1% and 3.4% over the next three years. It is the responsibility of Highland Council to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives.

Employment

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it can offer to the 150 workers from Dundee whose jobs are in jeopardy as a result of Texol Technical Solutions plc going into receivership.

Jim Mather: I understand that Texol is currently in administration and that, regrettably, 85 staff were made redundant on Tuesday 5 March 2008. The affected staff are being contacted by the Scottish Government’s local partnership action for continuing employment (PACE) team who will provide them with full details of the support, advice, guidance and retraining options available to help them access alternative employment opportunities. Should the administrator be unable to avoid further redundancies, PACE assistance will be also available to all those affected.

  As you are aware, I met with you and Cllr. Joe Morrow on 11 March 2008 to discuss the impact of recent redundancies on the economy of the city of Dundee. This was a constructive meeting and I have agreed to facilitate a key stakeholder discussion forum, focusing on the city’s economic future, in the coming months.

Energy

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what potential it sees in using offshore energy transmission methods for (a) exporting energy generated in Scotland and (b) moving energy from point of generation to point of usage within Scotland.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government believes that to fully capitalise on our renewables resource we must explore the potential to export electricity using sub-sea cables.

  In the shorter term, we are urgently seeking fairer charging and connection regimes for Scottish generators. However, we will consider all available evidence to inform discussions on grid development options with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and other stakeholders.

Energy Efficiency

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will launch its consultation on energy performance and carbon impact measures for existing domestic and non-domestic buildings.

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what external stakeholders it has met to discuss its forthcoming consultation on energy performance and carbon impact measures for existing domestic and non-domestic buildings; when it met each organisation, and what issues were discussed.

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive with which external stakeholders it intends to discuss its forthcoming consultation on energy performance and carbon impact measures for existing domestic and non-domestic buildings and what issues it will discuss with each stakeholder.

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to officials on consulting external stakeholders when drawing up policy and whether this guidance has been followed in the case of the forthcoming consultation on energy performance and carbon impact measures for existing domestic and non-domestic buildings.

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what training courses are available for officials in better policy making and whether the officials working on the forthcoming consultation on energy performance and carbon impact measures for existing domestic and non-domestic buildings have undertaken this training.

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be best practice in stakeholder engagement and whether such practice has been followed in the forthcoming introduction of energy performance and carbon impact measures for existing domestic and non-domestic buildings.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government will issue its consultation paper on the energy performance of buildings as soon as possible.

  The Scottish Government is in liaison with a range of stakeholders in the development of policy on the energy performance of buildings. Examples of this include the consultation on the Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration Strategy for Scotland and, more recently, the process of stakeholder engagement linked to the production of the Sullivan Report.

  We signalled our intention to consult on the role for standards for existing non-domestic buildings and housing stock in the consultation on proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill launched on 29 January. Prior to its launch the Scottish Government had discussions with several important stakeholders.

  Scottish ministers have yet to approve the specific content of the planned consultation on the energy performance of buildings. However, its is intended that most of its contents will be developed from these prior consultations. The consultation paper currently under development will provide an opportunity for further input from a wide range of stakeholders once it is issued. We will seek to ensure that the wide range of bodies with an interest have an equal opportunity to contribute and make their views known. Stakeholders will be free to indicate their views on any matter relevant to the subject matter of the consultation.

  The Scottish Government provides guidance on its consultation process which, in regard to the pre-consultation stage, makes clear that notification of all consultations should be published on its website at least six weeks prior to the launch date to alert the public in good time. In accordance with this guidance, the intention to consult on measures to improve the energy performance of existing buildings was registered on 30 January. The guidance indicates that, depending on the nature of the exercise, officials might find it useful to seek advice from external organisations early in the process, although there is no requirement to do so. Given the extensive pre-existing consultation in this subject area, for example, linked to the Sullivan Report, and the link to the proposed Climate Change Bill, which was also subject to a process of pre-consultation engagement, it was not considered appropriate or timely for an additional pre-consultation exercise.

  The Scottish Government provides a range of training for its officials depending on their previous knowledge and experience and reflecting the specific requirements of their role.

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1056 by Michael Russell on 27 June 2007, what progress has been made on analysing the responses to the consultation exercise, Strengthening and Streamlining: The Way Forward for the Enforcement of Environmental Law in Scotland ; when such an analysis will be published, and when the Scottish Government intends to announce what steps it will take in relation to the issues covered in this consultation.

Michael Russell: An exercise was completed to collate the responses received on the consultation document issued by the previous administration but it was decided not to proceed with a formal analysis of the responses. Any identified issues requiring attention in relation to environmental law will be considered in the normal course of government business.

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1057 by Michael Russell on 27 June 2007, when it intends to transpose the EU environmental liability directive; whether it plans to consult on legislative proposals for this transposition, and when it intends this legislation to be introduced to the Parliament.

Michael Russell: We intend to carry out a second public consultation exercise shortly and subject to issues arising during the consultation, introduce legislation with the aim of transposing the directive later this year.

Equal Pay

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress local authorities have made in implementing single status agreements.

John Swinney: This is a matter for local authorities as independent, corporate bodies.

Families

Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it supports parents and families.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government is committed to providing support to parents and families and it has a range of policies and programmes that provide support either directly or indirectly.

Ferry Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether fares for cars, passengers and 10-metre long commercial vehicles on each of the ferry services operated by Calmac Ferries Ltd and not included in the road equivalent tariff pilot would increase or decrease and, if so, by how much, if the fares were set using the road equivalent tariff fares proposed for ferries to the Western Isles from 18 October 2008.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether fares for cars, passengers and 10-metre long commercial vehicles on each of the ferry services running to or within Orkney would increase or decrease and, if so, by how much if the fares were set using the road equivalent tariff fares proposed for ferries to the Western Isles from 18 October 2008.

Stewart Stevenson: The consultants are currently finalising the first phase of the study into road equivalent tariff (RET). The report will include details of current fares and potential RET fares for all ferry services subsidised by the Scottish Government.

  As a general principle, no fares would rise as the result of the application of the proposed formula.

  I will ensure that you are sent a final copy of the report when it is available.

Ferry Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of its proposed road equivalent tariff fares on (a) ferries to the Western Isles and (b) the economies of each of the Scottish Islands served by ferries which will not to see a cut in their fares from October 2008 to spring 2011, and what the result of any such assessment is in respect of each island or island group.

Stewart Stevenson: The examination and assessment of the impact of introduction of the road equivalent tariff approach is the principal reason why we are carrying out a pilot. While the desk-based study has been very informative only a live pilot can determine what the impact of a road equivalent tariff scheme will be, not just on the pilot routes but elsewhere in the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles networks. That assessment will be comprehensive and consider usage and revenue impacts as well as economic and social impacts.

  The pilot scheme will be closely monitored to capture all the information we need to take decisions on future fares levels across the entire Scottish ferry network.

Ferry Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for its proposed charging system for pedestrians on ferries to the Western Isles, which is to be based on the road equivalent tariff and which involves basing ferry fares on the cost of travelling an equivalent distance by road, but which would charge passengers £2.10 to travel one mile and £2.20 to travel two miles.

Stewart Stevenson: To establish a rate for passengers the consultants for the road equivalent tariff (RET) study considered passenger fares on comparable bus and train journeys in Scotland. In addition, they considered worldwide experience of RET. In provinces in Canada where RET is used, passenger fares are based on a percentage of the car rate. The consultants have suggested that a core rate of £2 plus 10p per mile represents a cost comparable to bus and rail travel and a fair percentage of the car rate.

  Using a core rate maintains a link to the actual cost of providing and maintaining vessels and harbours. It is important that any scheme is affordable, not just for the pilot exercise but for any future roll-out.

Ferry Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for its proposed charging system for commercial vehicles on ferries to the Western Isles, which is to be based on the road equivalent tariff and which involves basing ferry fares on the cost of travelling an equivalent distance by road, but which would charge 10-metre long commercial vehicles £201.80 to travel one mile and £203.60 to travel two miles.

Stewart Stevenson: To establish a fair rate for commercial vehicles the consultants for the road equivalent tariff (RET) study considered Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association rates. The suggested rate reflects a cost of £1.80 per mile for a 10-metre vehicle which is broadly comparable with the data provided by those organisations.

  The current fare structure for commercial vehicles on the Clyde and Hebrides ferry service network is based on the length of the vehicle. It is clear that there is a strong correlation between the length and weight of the vehicle and the cost per mile of running that vehicle. The consultants recommended that the fare per mile for a commercial vehicle continues to reflect the length of the vehicle carried and also reflect the running cost of the vehicle. The new fare will therefore be a rate per metre per mile.

  Using a core rate of £20 maintains a link to the actual cost of providing and maintaining vessels and harbours. It is important that any scheme is affordable, not just for the pilot exercise but for any future roll-out.

  Consequently, the road equivalent tariff rate for a 10-metre commercial vehicle to travel one mile would be £21.80 and to travel two miles £23.60, not £201.80 and £203.60 as suggested in the member’s question.

  The RET rate represents a significant saving for commercial vehicles using the pilot routes.

Ferry Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for its proposed charging system for cars on ferries to the Western Isles, which is to be based on the road equivalent tariff and which involves basing ferry fares on the cost of travelling an equivalent distance by road, but which would charge cars £5.60 to travel one mile and £6.20 to travel two miles.

Stewart Stevenson: To establish an appropriate rate for cars the consultants for the road equivalent tariff (RET) study considered Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the AA and RAC current figures on the cost of car travel. The current HMRC rates for car travel have been in place for some time now. The 60p per mile rate suggested by the consultants is broadly comparable with the cost of running an average family car as identified by both the AA and RAC.

  Using a core rate maintains a link to the actual cost of providing and maintaining vessels and harbours. It is important that any scheme is affordable, not just for the pilot exercise but for any future roll-out.

Ferry Services

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the STAG appraisal on ferry services for Lismore in Argyll.

Stewart Stevenson: In December 2006, the previous administration announced its intention to commission a STAG appraisal on ferry services to Lismore once the tendering of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services was completed. I am currently reviewing the options for the future of the ferry services to Lismore and will make an announcement in due course.

Ferry Services

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5074 by Stewart Stevenson on 25 October 2007, whether the additional winter sailings to Islay received any additional subsidy.

Stewart Stevenson: The additional winter sailings to Islay do not receive any additional subsidy from the Scottish Government.

Information Technology

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its departments have lost laptops since May 2007.

John Swinney: Four laptops have been lost or stolen from the Scottish Government since May 2007 (one from a directorate in the Finance and Sustainable Growth portfolio, one from Change and Corporate Services and two new and unused laptops that were being delivered to Change and Corporate Services).

Information Technology

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many laptops lost or stolen from its departments or agencies since May 2007 contained encrypted information.

John Swinney: Departments do not exist in what is now the Scottish Government (SG). Six laptops have been lost or stolen since May 2007 from the SG or agencies which use its IT services. Two of these were new and unused and contained no data. The other four, in line with all SG laptops, had their data automatically encrypted.

Information Technology

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any information held in laptops lost or stolen from its departments or agencies since May 2007 posed a threat to public safety or national security.

John Swinney: We are not aware of any laptops lost or stolen since May 2007 containing any information which might pose a threat to public safety or national security.

Information Technology

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place for tracing and retrieving lost data from the computers of its departments or agencies.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government (SG) IT division has technical utility software which can be used to recover deleted data in certain circumstances. There are also commercial companies who specialise in the recovery of data.

  SG networked PCs are configured to store data on network drives and not on the PC itself so that in the event of failure or loss, data is not lost but is still available on the network. Data on the network is backed up (copies taken and stored in a secure location) on a nightly basis.

  In the case of laptops, our mode of operation is designed to ensure that as much data as possible is held on the office network storage as well as on the laptop. That ensures that the data is still accessible even if the laptop is lost or stolen. In the event of loss, the only data which would be unavailable would be any that had been created exclusively on the laptop and there would therefore be minimum loss. Staff are encouraged to synchronise their laptops regularly with the office network to ensure that such material is copied on to the network storage for safe keeping.

Information Technology

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures its departments and agencies have in place for the storage and use of data.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government (SG) applies relevant government, UK and European standards and methodologies in the design, development and use of its information technology systems including the storage and use of the data held within these systems.

  These standards include ISO 27001 (the information security standard) and ITIL (the IT infrastructure library covering service and support standards).

  In addition, the SG adhere to relevant legislation relating to the use of data such as the Data Protection Act and the Freedom of Information Act together with the Computer Misuse Act, Copyright Act, the Official Secrets Act and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.

  The SG also applies the guidance and recommendations of the Cabinet Office (Her Majesty’s Government Infosec standards) which detail the methods by which data must be gathered, stored, accessed, shared and deleted. The SG’s own internal guidance is based on that material.

Information Technology

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what disciplinary action it would take against any person or department responsible for losing its data.

John Swinney: In such instances an investigative process would take place with any disciplinary action dependant upon the outcome of the investigation.

Information Technology

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to prevent any future loss of data from its departments or agencies.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government (SG) is currently reviewing its data handling arrangements in line with a similar UK exercise. A working group under the Director-General Justice is directing this review in which the data handling processes at all public sector bodies in Scotland are being reviewed to ensure they meet the required standards.

  When the review is complete, guidance will be revised if appropriate and issued to SG staff and agencies. An action plan will be produced to ensure any deficiencies identified are addressed.

  Pending the review, reminders have been issued to all SG staff of the processes which exist to protect data both at rest and in transit and of their responsibilities to ensure these are complied with.

International Relations

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what links it is planning to establish with Venezuela.

Linda Fabiani: I met the Venezuelan Ambassador on 21 February to discuss links between Scotland and Venezuela. The Scottish Government has no current plans to establish further links with Venezuela.

Justice

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Lord Advocate will reply to my letters of 6 December 2007 and subsequent reminder in respect of the issues arising from a trip to Paris organised by Greenfaulds High School in October 2006.

Right Hon Elish Angiolini QC: The letter was answered on 12 March 2008.

Parliamentary Questions

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what average number of parliamentary questions were answered on (a) Mondays, (b) Tuesdays, (c) Wednesdays, (d) Thursdays and (e) Fridays since June 2007.

Bruce Crawford: This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  All answers to oral parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s Official Report website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/index.htm.

Planning

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9289 by Stewart Stevenson on 21 February 2008, what the reasons are for the continuing delay to the completion of the West Edinburgh Planning Framework.

Stewart Stevenson: Further to my answer to question S3W-9289 regarding preparation of the West Edinburgh Planning Framework, issues regarding transport components have been particularly complex. However, officials are now in agreement as to a way forward and the document will proceed to finalisation as soon as possible.

Post Offices

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to Scottish Enterprise to support the business development of sub-post offices in 2008 and how this compares with funding for the previous five years.

Jim Mather: There has been no funding allocated to Scottish Enterprise in 2008, nor in the previous five years, to provide business development support specifically to sub-post office businesses.

Post Offices

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it will make to the UK Government about the provision of sub-post offices on university campuses.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10642 on 12 March 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Pre-School Education

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in delivering the SNP manifesto commitment to increase the entitlement to free nursery education for three and four-year-olds from 400 to 600 hours a year.

Adam Ingram: In autumn 2007, we increased entitlement to pre-school education from 412.5 to 475 hours per annum. As part of the concordat between COSLA and Scottish ministers, local government has agreed to increase the entitlement to 570 hours per annum in August 2010. We are now starting to consider options to deliver the final step in achieving a 50% increase in entitlement by 2011.

School Meals

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9940 by Adam Ingram on 29 February 2008, whether funding for free school meals for P1 to P3 pupils beyond the 2007-08 academic year would come from existing local authority funding allocations or whether it would provide additional funding.

Adam Ingram: We will be providing local government with record levels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11. The vast majority of the funding will be provided by means of a block grant. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and the full terms of the concordat, which includes the provision of free school meals for P1 to P3 from 2010.

School Meals

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9940 by Adam Ingram on 29 February 2008, whether the policy of free school meals for P1 to P3 pupils will be extended beyond the end of the current academic year.

Adam Ingram: Under the terms of our concordat with local government, local authorities will provide free school meals to all P1 to P3 pupils from August 2010, if the evaluation of the current trial is positive and the necessary legislation is passed by the Parliament.

Schools

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what value it places on school library services in supporting the school curriculum and pupil learning.

Maureen Watt: School libraries and librarians play a valuable role in supporting learning in schools. We recognise the contribution school librarians can make in a number of ways to the delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence. For example, as part of Curriculum for Excellence, Learning and Teaching Scotland have recently released for engagement the experiences and outcomes for literacy in English and Gaelic and we hope this will reinvigorate our approach to literacy and language in Scotland.

Schools

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9305 by Maureen Watt on 29 February 2008, how many of the 45 school building contracts referred to were initiated prior to 3 May 2007.

Maureen Watt: All seven contracts were under negotiation prior to 3 May 2007.

Scottish Water

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date its review into the structure of Scottish Water will begin.

Stewart Stevenson: The motion passed by the Scottish Parliament on 21 February 2008 calls on the Scottish Government to keep under review the structure and operations of Scottish Water – this is what we shall do.

Student Finance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated level of student debt in Scotland was in (a) 1997, (b) 1999 and (c) 2007.

Fiona Hyslop: The average debt owed to the Student Loans Company by Scottish borrowers entering repayment in 1999 was £2,863. The corresponding figure for 2007 was £5,808. These data were supplied by the Student Loans Company. Corresponding data for 1997 are not available.

  The averages include students who did not graduate and the 2007 figure also includes loans taken out to pay the Scottish Graduate Endowment.

Student Finance

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students domiciled in Scotland have their grandparents’ income taken into account in assessments to determine levels of student support.

Fiona Hyslop: In academic year 2006-07 the Student Awards Agency for Scotland included the income of at least one grandparent in the assessment of levels of support for 165 Scottish-domiciled students.

Student Finance

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students domiciled in Scotland whose parental income is taken into account in determining levels of student support have at least one parent who receives working tax credit.

Fiona Hyslop: This information is not held centrally. Information on parental receipt of working tax credit is currently not taken into account in the assessment of student support by the Students Awards Agency for Scotland and therefore is not collected.

Student Finance

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students domiciled in Scotland whose parental income is taken into account in determining levels of student support have at least one step-parent.

Fiona Hyslop: This information is not held centrally.

Telecommunications

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government regarding the roll-out of DAB digital radio to the Western Isles before 2010.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government will encourage the roll out of DAB digital radio to the Western Isles, although the further extension of such services is in the first place a commercial matter for operators.

  The government will be involved with the UK Government in the Digital Radio Working Group established by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. This group has been established to consider:

  What conditions would need to be achieved before digital platforms could become the predominant means of delivering radio?

  What are the current barriers to the growth of digital radio?

  What are the possible remedies to those barriers?

  The Scottish Government is contributing to the work of the group and will ensure that the interests of the Western Isles and other rural and island communities are considered. The group is due to report later in 2008.

  I would also clarify that, in the Western Isles, digital radio will be available via digital television after the 2010 digital television switchover. It will not automatically be available on a DAB radio set at that date.

Water Charges

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the water and sewerage charge exemption scheme beyond 2010.

Stewart Stevenson: We are currently considering the issue of the water services charges exemption scheme as part of our 2010-14 Principles of Charging consultation.

  An analysis of that consultation, which closed on 29 February, will be published in due course.